In North America in the past few years, there have been many incidents where police have fatally shot suspects. In many of these cases critics have said officers lives were not really in danger and there was no immediate need for police to fire. In many cases, critics say the victim was mentally or emotionally disturbed, no actual harm had come to anyone else, and the situation could have been de-escalated without use of force.
Helen Slinger of Vancouver-based Bountiful Films is writer and director of the documentary film “Hold Your Fire”. It examines the situation, and finds that police training encourages the quick resort to use of police guns.
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It’s a difficult, controversial and tough subject. Police are called to serve and protect but often within mere moments of their arrival on the scene, a victim lies dead.
It seems there is virtually no time given by the police in Canada or the US, to assess the situation and attempt a de-escalation.
The film highlights differences in the “American” approach to tense situations- and adopted by most Canadian police- and that of the British method, which tends to proceed much more slowly and de-escalate without weapons drawn.
The film shows how typical police training leads to the quick reaction to draw weapons and shoot, and how progressive police forces, in Britain and a few in North America are making efforts to adopt a different path.
The documentary talks with the families of victims to learn their side and also travels with police mobile teams in major Canadian cities of Hamilton, Toronto, and Halifax to understand what they are up against.
Following the CBC Television Main Network premiere on Thursday, .
- CBC- “Firsthand” documentary show
- Firsthand- Hold your Fire additional info/resources
- Bountiful Films.
Huffington Post- Montreal shooting, including bystander
Dziekanski- tired, lost, confused in Vcr airport- police @4.55-first taser 5;20. dead approx 7;00
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